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The Devil tarot card is one of the 22 major arcana cards in a tarot deck.

It is often associated with negative aspects such as temptation, sin, and evil.

However, You can also interpret the devil tarot card as symbolizing freedom and liberation.

In a reading, the devil tarot card may indicate that you are being tempted by something or in danger of succumbing to temptation.

The Devil tarot card can also suggest that you somehow feel trapped or limited.

The Devil tarot card may represent the freedom to be yourself and express your true desires in a more positive light.

It can also indicate that you are ready to break free from any limitations holding you back.

Let's briefly talk about the history of the Devil tarot card.

The History And Appearance Of The Devil Tarot Card

The Devil tarot card is one of the most iconic and well-known cards in the deck, but its history is a mystery.

Some believe that the devil card is based on the biblical figure of Satan, while others claim that it represents temptation and sin.

Regardless of its origins, the devil tarot card has come to be associated with many negative connotations.

And those are evil, darkness, and destruction.

In addition, it can often indicate events or situations that are harmful or dangerous. But not always.

Let's talk about the appearance of the card based on the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck.

When you look at the Devil tarot card, you see a half-goat and half-human creature known as the Baphomet.

The Baphomet has consistently been shown as a figure representing good and evil, as well as male and female, or it is about balance.

Unfortunately, over time, the Baphomet developed the meaning of something being evil, and people believed it had an association with the occult.

You see with the symbolism that there are vampire bat wings, which is to suck blood.

That is symbolic of when you overindulge.

The figure also has a memorizing stare, and if you look above it, there is an inverted pentagram which is a sign of the negative side of occultism.

As you see, he holds a torch in his left hand, and his right hand, he raises it as the Vulcan salute, which is a Jewish blessing.

If you are a Star Trek fan, then you would know this.

What about the man and woman at the feet?

They are naked, and the podium has a chain to them, making them appear trapped.

But here is the thing, those chains are not too tight, and they could remove them if they wanted.

And they have horns on their heads which means they are adopting habits from the Devil.

In addition, they have tails that show their primitive tendencies, which is a sign of their lust.

So now, let's delve further into what it means if you have the Devil tarot card come up in a reading.

What The Devil Tarot Card Means In A Reading.

If you are faced with the Devil tarot card in a reading, it is essential to be honest about what is tempting you.

Are you being tempted by something harmful or sinful?

Or is the Devil tarot card prompting you to leap of faith and embrace your freedom?

Whichever interpretation you choose, remember that the Devil tarot card can also be a sign of change and progress.

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In general, the Devil tarot card signifies that the querent is faced with a challenging decision or dilemma.

They must choose between following their desires or sticking to what's good and right.

The Devil card can also indicate that the querent is tempted by something dangerous or harmful.

It can also represent something too indulgent that you may regret later on.

For example, if you are eating out at a buffet, you may be tempted to grab everything in sight and regret it the day after.

The same goes for you having too much booze.

The Devil can also represent addictions, attachments, and obsessions which are not healthy.

For example, if you are addicted to a particular friend, that can represent the Devil.

That means you cannot be without your friend's presence.

You have to be everywhere your friend is, which will drive them bananas.

However, the Devil tarot card can represent independence and self-reliance on a more positive note.

It can suggest that the querent is ready to break free from their past and forge their path.

That does depend on the other cards in the spread.

The Devil tarot card is always powerful and thought-provoking, no matter the interpretation.

It challenges the querent to examine their motivations and desires and make sure they make choices in line with their highest good.

Ultimately, the Devil tarot card is a powerful symbol of choice and free will.

So how does the Devil associate with Risa's life? You can see that there are signs that Risa does relate to this card in many ways.

She gives into a lot of temptation. She has been tempted to quit therapy, she has been tempted to stress-eat, and she feels trapped.

She feels chained to her responsibilities.

Her thinking of her being deserving of the bad things that have happened in her life is also something she cannot break free from, and that goes to those who struggle with complex trauma and other mental health disorders.

Since she feels tied to those beliefs and keeps up with harmful habits, she brings out the dark side of the Devil.

It takes a lot of work for someone who struggles with mental illness to release any of that.

Let's be frank, Risa has no support. She has a child that does not have the cognitive ability to cheer her on.

Ron, her husband, seems to be going through the motions. Risa's parents abuse her.

She has no friends but wants to believe that the neighbor she helps is her friend when it is not.

Risa has nothing to motivate her to remove any unhealthy attachments.

What she needs in her life is someone to help her relate more to the positive aspects of the Devil upright and in reverse.

Devil In Reverse

When the Devil is in reverse, it can be a positive thing because it represents breaking free from unhealthy attachments and addictions.

It can also mean divorce, which in some cases is a positive thing if the marriage was suffering from the start.

And as mentioned, Ron and Risa are not a happy couple as they are conveniently and unhappily married.

The Devil reversed can indicate that, but there is the valid financial fear that goes with that reality. But Risa could make it happen.

She could send her son to a therapeutic residence, stop helping her neighbor, and cut ties or limit contact with her parents.

Risa could find methods to work from home, and if she is honest with herself, she will see that her marriage is loveless and eventually leave.

She could finally be independent and perhaps gain some confidence. And have a desire to start therapy again.

But I understand, all easier said than done.

But that is just an example of how she could represent the beneficial aspects of the Devil, and the Devil reversed.

Next time, I will talk about one of the tarot cards in the Major Arcana that is one of the most dreaded, the Tower!